Despite this, there is no breach of the wind turbine ETSU-R-97 noise guidelines.
Last week, BBC Radio interviewed Jane Davis and then asked a spokesman for the turbine operators for his comments.
Trevor Gaits, speaking on behalf of Wind Prospe
ct, described the Davis's plight as "unfortunate" and stated firmly that their windfarm was "compliant with all current noise regulations" and "meets our planning permission requirement".
The World Health Organisation recommends the level of continuous noise outside a dwelling should be 45 dB or less. This means that the noise outside the Davis' home can exceed this limit by 100 times. (Increasing the dB level by 20 multiplies the noise level by 100. Thus the 66 dB measured at the Davis' house is 100 times louder than the loudest continuous outdoor night time noise (45 dB) recommended by the World Health Organisation).
The Davis family are indeed "unfortunate".
There are ten wind turbine developments proposed for Angus and there are in excess of 100 properties within a mile of the proposed Montreathmont and Rossie Moor turbines.
Jane Davis was invited to speak about wind turbine noise problems at Farnell because local people believed it was essential that everyone understood just how disturbing turbines could be and that, once they were up, it might not be possible to resolve any noise problems.
Farnell people listened in silence as Mrs Davis played a recording, made using BBC Radio 4 equipment, of the appalling noise audible from her back door. The noise, she informed the meeting is present for 60% of the time and persists for at least a further 600m past her home – a noise which recently peaked at 66dB.
This noise has forced them to rent a house just to sleep in and their £180,000 home is now worth just the value of the land. Despite this appalling situation, there is no compensation and they have no remedy in law.
A neighbour of the Michelin turbines in Dundee told the Farnell meeting of the unbearable noise that stopped him sleeping. Similar, written warnings of turbine noise have also been sent to Angus Council from people living close to turbines at Crystal Rig, Glens of Foudland and Ireleth.
A spokesman for Novera, the organisation who are proposing to erect the turbines at Rossie Moor, also addressed the meeting.
David Taylor sought to reassure everyone by reporting that acoustic consultants Hayes McKenzie had been engaged to advise both themselves and Angus Council.
Mr Taylor went on to say that as a result of their "360 degree" acoustic monitoring, he was "absolutely certain the noise emanating from the proposed turbines would not breach standards" and he was sure that planning conditions placed on their development would also protect neighbours from noise.
Mr Taylor was almost paraphrasing the above comments made by the developer of the windfarm at the Davis' home.
Yes, Mr Taylor, I believe you. I am sure no matter what noise your turbines may make, it is unlikely it will "breach standards" or any planning conditions placed on them. This is one of the reasons why there are calls for changes to the outdated ETSU-R-97 guidelines.
Mrs Davis warned that currently the wind industry was unable to reliably predict whether or not neighbouring property would be affected by noise. This was borne out by recent reports which suggest that noise problems exist at approximately 10-12% of wind turbine sites in the UK.
She stated that until the science was better understood, the UK should follow the French example and ensure that a minimum distance of two kilometres was maintained between properties and turbines.
Wind Prospect, the developer of the proposed Montreathmont turbines did not come to Farnell to meet Mrs Davis and reassure the people living in the 70 plus properties within a mile of its 19 proposed turbines.
Is it possible that their absence had anything to do with the fact that they are the same developers who were responsible for erecting the turbines in the Davis's 'back yard'?
Yours etc.,
F. I. Ainslie,
West Cottage,
St Murdoch's Well,
by Brechin.
